Toilet accessory



May 10, 1932. w, RE MAN 1,858,218

TOILET ACCESSORY Filed Nov. 2, 1929 I I INVENTOR Wz lYzam Friedman ATTO N E Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIAM FRIEDMAN, OFVNEW Yonx, N. Y.,

Application filed November T his invention relates to toilet accessories,

and more particularly to such devices which are carried by women and are commonly used to carry make-up material such as face powder, and are generally known as vanity boxes, the present application being a division in part of application Serial No. 382,812 filed July 31, 1929.

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved container of this sort which is adapted to use with loose powder as distinguished from a powder compact; to enable the powder to be securely retalned against inadvertent spilling or loss; to provide an effective seal between parts of the dispensing retainer; to employ the positive sealing eifect of an edge against a surfaceto secure immediate as well as positive closure of the container when the sifting parts are released by the user; to thus obtain the same simplicity. ease of use and non-spilling characteristics of powder compacts in addition to all of the advantages of loose powder to provide for quick flow of powder with a very gentle touch; to provide an auxiliary powder chamher; to enable the device to be stamped from sheet metal; to characterize the construction and operation by simplicity throughout; and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Referringto the accompanying drawings 1n which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a plan of an open toilet accessory embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same with the parts of the dispensing retainer in normal or closed and sealed position; 7

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view showing the parts of the dispensing retainer depressed; 7

Figure l is a plan of the open toilet accessory similar to Fig. 1, but with parts of the closure plate broken away to show the dis' pensing plate therebeneath;

Figure 5 is a modified construction utilizing a dispensing plate which is flat at its middle portion; and

2, 1929. Serial No. 404,274.

Figure 6 is a further modified construction omitting the feeder plate. i a

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said 'drawings,the refer ence numeral 1 indicates the body portion of the toilet accessory, this box or body portion being adapted to receive a make-up material in powderform. Preferably, as shown, I provide an outer cover 2,- and closing the usual opening 3 of the box, but adapted to be enclosed also by said outer cover, is an inner cover which I prefer'to call a dispensing retainer 4. Both the cover and the retainer are preferably hinged, as at 5 and 6 respectively tothe body, so they may be opened independently of each other, and have suitable snap fastener meansas usual for retaining them releasably closed. The dispensing retainer is intended to be opened only for such purposes as inspection and filling of box 1, the retainer having means for passing the powder therethrough. I v

- The dispensing retainer 4, forming an essential part of the present invention, is of such nature that it is normally closed to prevent escape or spilling of the powder from box 1, but hasa construction enabling it to automatically permit escape of a limited amount of powder when properly manipulated as by rubbing or tapping. The openings through which the powder thus escapes,- nevertheless, will close as soon as pressure is removed. It is an important feature, also of this invention, to seal the parts of this dispensing retainer when in normal position so as to not permit powder to leak past the closure. Several ways of accomplishing these features have been illustrated and will be described separately.

Devoting attention for the moment to Figures 1. 2, 8 and 4 more particularly, it will be observed that the dispensing retainer 4 is composed of a resilient sifter plate 7 below which is juxtaposed a closure plate a 8. Preferably the sifter plate 7 is stamped from a single piece of material of suitable character, and has one or more slots 9 therein suchthat the plate may be flexed out of its own plane and the crevice formed by the slot temporarily increased in size. Resil- Cal iency of the material, however, will return the depressed portions or segments of the plate back to normal position when the depressing pressure is removed. According to the present showing, the plate is provided with several slots 9 which are curvilinear, and shown herein as spiral. The outer edge or rim of this resilient plate is shaped to fit the opening 3 of the box. I

The closure plate 8 is preferably held at its center by a rivet 14 to the dispensing plate and extends radially far enough so that t will close the slots 9 when the plates are in normal position fiatwi'se together. Qbviously this construction results in a positive sealing of the parts against leakage of powder therebetween when closed, but permitsof free passage of powder when'the resilient plate is depressed in a manner 'to create a gap between the peripheries of the plates.

It will be noted that I preferably form the dispensing plate 7 with an upstanding rim and outwardly turned edge so as to fit downwardly within the opening of the container 1. the middle portion of'the'dispensmg plate being lower than the outwardly turned edge. Within this depressed portion of the d spensing plate I mount a closure plate 10. This closure plate is preferably shaped so as to be peripherally substantially the height of the upstanding rim of the dispensing'plate but its middle portion slopes down to the surface of the dispensing plate'to engage the same. 'The central part of the closure plate is provided with a central openingI'l through which the powder can escape when the dispensing plate is depressed out of contact with the closure plate. In Figures I to 4 I have shown the dispensing plate provided with an offset or upstanding projection 12 of substantially the diameter of aperture 11 in the closure plate. When the dispensing plate is in normal position this projection '12 will stick through the aperture '11 and the edge of the closure plate around aperture 11 will engage the projection so as to provide an edge-to-surface closure therebetween, as a result no powder can escape between these parts until the dispensing plate is depressed.

The formation-of the closure plate 10 is such as to provide an auxiliary powder chamber 13 between said closure plate and the dispensing plate. I findthat this feature is of great importance in that it enables the powder to be very easily dispensed by a very gentle touch on the dispensing plate. The structure is such that powder is at a level above the dispensing plate and will readily come out even with the slightest opening made by a very gentle tap or agitation of the dispensing plate. The powder is fed up to the auxiliary chamber 13 by action of thesuch that the apertures 9 in the dispensing plate are always hidden and no leakage which may occur from the main powder chamber through the apertures 9 will be stopped by the powder remaining in the auxiliary chamber 13 which is effectively sealed by the edgeto-surface closure. It is to be noted that the feeder plate 8 is secured as by rivet 14 at its middle portion only to the dispensing plate,..a.nd is shaped similar to the dispensing plate so as to be readily assembled and constitute an effective closure as well as an eiiicient powder lifting means.

It is not to be understood that the invention is limited to use of a dispensing plate having an upstanding middle portion through the aperture of the closure plate. In Figure 5 the closure plate 15 is shown with a central opening 16 the edge of which turns downwardly and engages upon the flat surface of a dispensing plate 17. This dispensi-ng plate is flat at its middle portion but is otherwise of the same shape as the dispensin-g plate heretofore described. The dispensing plate in this view is shown as havof not only forming a seal against powder leakage but providing means for "obtaining prompt delivery of powder even with very gentle operation of parts.

The structure above described providing an auxiliary powder chamber lends itself to effective operation even with the omission of the lifting plate. In Figure 6 I have shown such a construction wherein is illustrated a dispensing plate 21 having substantially the shape of the dispensing plate of the'first four figures, that is, depressed at its rim and having a middle projection 22 for entry into an opening '23 at the middle part of a concave closure p'late24. An auxiliary powder chamber 25 is provided between the dispensing plate 21 and the closure plate2e. Powder will be raised by depression of the dispensing plate 21, .the powder entering the auxiliary chamber 25 from which it will escape through opening 23 when the dispensing plate is depressed. It may be observed in this connection that in Figure 6 the middle projection 22 of the dispensing plate is of such a height that its upper surface is substantially in continuation of the outer surface of the concave closure plate 24, whereas the dispensing plate of Figures 1 to 4 is shown projecting above the continued surface of the concave closure plate. Both of these constructions have their particular advantages and one may be employed rather than the other in either construction of the remaining parts of the devices.

Obviously other detail changes and modifications may be made in the manufacture and use of my improved toilet accessory, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact structure shown or described, except as set forth in the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention, I claim r 1. In a device of the character described providing a main powder chamber, a dispensing plate forming a top for said chamber extending entirely across the same, and adapted to have powder introduced onto the upper side thereof, a closure forming with said plate a normally substantially closed second chamber for retaining the powder on said dispensing plate from escaping, said closure having an opening through which said powder may escape from below the closure plate as desired.

2. In a device of the character described providing a main powder chamber, a dispensing plate, and a closure plate normally forming a substantially closed auxiliary powder chamber in connection with the said dispensing plate.

3. In a device of the character described, having a main powder chamber, a dispensing plate at the top of said powder chamber adapted to receive powder therefrom, and a closure plate above the dispensing plate normally forming with said plate a substantially auxiliary chamber, said closure plate preventing escape of powder on the dispensing plate except as desired.

4:. In a. device of the character described, having a main powder chamber, a dispensing plate at the top of said powder chamber adapted to receive powder therefrom, and a closure plate forming a normally substantially closed auxiliary powder chamber with the said dispensing plate for receiving and retaining the powder from the first mentioned chamber until desired.

5. In a device of the character described, having a main powder chamber, a dispensing plate at the top of said powder chamber adapted to receive powder therefrom, and a closure plate normally forming a substantially closed auxiliary powder chamber with the said dispensing plate for receiving and retaining the powder from the first mentioned chamber, said closure plate having an opening for the escape of powder from the auxiliary chamber as desired.

6. In a device of the character described, a dispensing retainer comprising a plurality of plates one of said plates having a central aperture therein with the rim thereof directed toward the other plate so as to seal the plates, one of said plates being centrally apertured and the other said plate being flexible and perforate opposite impertorate portions 7 of the first said apertured plate, said flexible plate having peripheral support and a shoulder centralized with respect to said apertured plate so that depression of said shoulder will flex the plate and the resiliency of said plate will return said shoulder to enter said aperture and close the same against passage of powder therethrough;

8. In a device of the character described. a dispensing retainer comprising a pair of plates one of which is secured at its edge to the other plate and has a central aperture therein, the said other plate being flexible and having a shoulder normally filling said aperture, said shoulder being depressible out of the aperture for permitting passage of powder therethrough.

9. In a device of the character described, a dispensing retainer comprising a plurality of plates one of which constituting a C10- ure plate having a central aperture, another of said plates constituting a dispensing plate and being positioned below the closure plate having a middle portion thereof adapted to seal the aperture against passage of powder from between the plates and being flexible and perforate for an outerportion thereof away from the said aperture of the closure plate so as to permit passage of powder from below, and the third plate being positioned fiat-wise below the dispensing plate for closing the perforations therein against passage of powder through the dispensing plate, said dispensing plate adapted to be flexed and simultaneously open passage for powder therethrough from below the dispensing plate and open the aperture in the upper closure plate for dispensing powder therethrough.

10. A. toilet accessory comprising a member forming a powder chamber, and a closure for said chamber comprising a plurality of plates one pair of which are secured together at one part of said closure, and another pair of which are secured together at another part of said closure, said plates providing a devious passage for powder from below the closure to the top of the same.

11. A toilet accessory comprising a member forming a powder chamber, and a closure for said chamber comprising a plurality of plates one pair of which are secured together at a middle part of the closure, and another pair ofwhioh are secured together at another part of said closure, said plates providing a devious-passage for powder from below the closure to the top of the same.

12. A toilet accessory comprising a member forming a powder chamber, and a closure for said chamber comprising a plurality of plates one pair of which are secured together at a peripheral part of the closure, and another pair of which are secured together at an-' other part of said closure, said plates providing a devious passage for powder from 14. A toilet accessory comprising a mem-.

ber forming a powder chamber, and a closure for said chamber comprising a plurality of plates one pair of which are secured together at one part of said closure, and another pair of which are secured together at a part thereof substantially in engagement with said closure, said plates providing a devious passage for powder from below the closure to the top of the same.

15. A toilet accessory comprising in combination, a dispensing plate, and a resilient closure plate forming normally a substantially closed powder chamber in connection with said dispensing plate, said closure plate having cuts therein adapted to be spread by flexing said plate and thereby admit powder to said chamber.

WILLIAM FRIEDMAN.

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